Messages

16

Astro Slide - Hardware / Re: backspace key removes two characters

« on: April 15, 2023, 09:37:55 am »

Though I don't own an Astro, I've had the Gemini/Cosmo, and I found a similar problem in TextMaker. I posted in their forum but didn't find a solution until I simply reprogrammed (in TextMaker only) the problematic keys.

If you can't reprogram the keys--say, Ctrl+BackSpace = BackSpace--within the actual programs, you could try a kb remapper from the Playstore. If you've rooted your machine, then you may be able to edit the key map yourself.

This is assuming that your Astro doesn't have a hardware malfunction.

Jake

17

Astro Slide - General Discussion / Re: Estimation of Astro shipment based on Cosmo Campaign

« on: December 10, 2022, 10:10:53 pm »

Well, congrats. God knows you deserve one.

Jake

18

Astro Slide - Android / Re: unlocked oem boot message warning

« on: November 26, 2022, 12:07:36 pm »

I don't have an Astro, so I can't answer, sorry.

But, cam, in general, are you liking your Astro?

Jake

19

Astro Slide - Hardware / Re: Astro battery module model

« on: November 15, 2022, 05:16:13 pm »

Yeah, it's not like they have a million customers. PC's audience is a throwback niche of former Psion users et al that has chosen to be loyal to a form factor disregarded by everybody else. So be loyal to us in return.

My personal rub with their service is when my Cosmo audio failed, barely out of warranty, and they made their customs info very obtuse. On the forms, I wrote that the phone was broken, but insured it for 300usd. Well, that forced me to pay another 75 pounds to get it out of customs, on top of the service for a 15-month-old phone that shouldn't have broken in the first place . PC should openly say, 'To avoid fees, do not insure, do not value it for anything monetary.'

Jake

20

Astro Slide - Hardware / Re: Astro battery module model

« on: November 14, 2022, 11:34:51 pm »

Or is it simply that PC embraces these dubious restrictions so it can make more money by forcing its users to ship to them for the replacement?

Jake

21

Astro Slide - Hardware / Re: Astro battery module model

« on: November 14, 2022, 06:12:14 pm »

Odd how PC, as a company, feels as if it's fading away. To cam's polite inquiry, PC cut-n-pasted a response that didn't even answer his question. Their reference to "summer sale" has obviously come and gone, and anybody who would pay $720usd for the ancient Cosmo would also need to see a doctor/financial planner.

Also, if I can get stand-alone replacement li-on batteries from China, why can't I get them from Britain?

Sigh,
Jake

22

Cosmo Communicator - Hardware / Re: Cosmo batteries

« on: October 28, 2022, 01:26:05 pm »

Yeah, same here. I've looked everywhere and constantly.

Jake

23

Astro Slide - Android / Re: bricked phone help

« on: October 19, 2022, 04:06:32 pm »

Cam, I am so sorry to hear that. Fingers crossed that an Astro owner can pull through.

Jake

24

Astro Slide - General Discussion / Re: Help me choose between the Pro1 and the Astro please !

« on: October 09, 2022, 07:13:26 pm »

What I think this thread is really about, psychologically, is the disappointment over PC's production of the Astro and how a bulk of backers are still without the machine.

Yes, I understand the effects of covid lockdowns and the supply-chain difficulties. That said, PC might've been more forthcoming with its updates, since many times, that was all they could provide. Often, the machine is not in active production, giving plenty of downtime for PC to explain things to their backers. A true failing is the continued absence of a linux build. No excuses there--I assume that at least PC has an Astro or two, so the OS should've been ready for download long ago. Flashing instructions, the works.

[Full disclosure: as an owner of the Gem/Cosmo, I did not back the Astro precisely because of these kinds of issues]

But there's no sense quarrelling among ourselves when we wouldn't be doing so if people had their phones. A two-year wait for a beta, potentially outdated device will make people testy, but we should try not to be testy with each other.

Jake

25

Cosmo Communicator - Linux / Re: Full installation guide KDE Plasma on Cosmo Communicator

« on: September 13, 2022, 10:01:16 am »

What a great How-To. Having written one for the Gemini, I know how much work it entails. Clear, broad, and thorough--thank you for all your effort.

If I could find a battery for my Cosmo, I would follow your guide in a second.

Jake

26

Astro Slide - Android / Re: Rooting the Astro Slide

« on: August 11, 2022, 04:31:03 pm »

I commend your efforts and your bravery for taking risks with a long-awaited machine.

So: no root and no linux.

Hmm,
Jake

27

Gemini PDA - Hardware / Re: Gemini won’t charge

« on: August 06, 2022, 09:57:36 pm »

I will try this interesting approach on both my Gem and Cosmo. Batteries appear to be shot and I can't find replacements anywhere in the world.

Jake

Follow-up: this did not work for my battery

28

Astro Slide - General Discussion / Re: Astro reviews thread

« on: July 20, 2022, 01:43:50 pm »

Ouch. Reviewer was even underwhelmed by the kb. In fairness to PC/Psion-like kb, I don't think the reviewer respected the difficulties of cramming a true kb into a phone. As for his problem with actual key presses, I would hope that extended use would get the keys to seat properly. That's often been the workaround with the Gem/Cosmo.

As for the buggy software, outdated Android, and basic-at-best camera, I guess individual users will have to weigh the good vs the bad.

The Astro has had almost two years of prep, and while I appreciate supply chain issues, etc, it appears that once more, PC developers didn't devote enough time to a functioning Linux distro. They certainly could've done it while they waited for production problems to ease; instead, it feels as if Adam Boardman will have to save the day again.

I poked my head into PC's site and couldn't find even a beta linux for download.

I mean, come on,
Jake

29

Cosmo Communicator - Linux / Re: Resize Partitions w/ No Data Loss?

« on: April 11, 2022, 05:57:48 pm »

I did not find a solution to this issue and since batteries have failed on both my Gemini and Cosmo, and no third-party batteries are available, the issue is now moot for me.

Jake

30

Cosmo Communicator - Hardware / Replacement Battery Grim Update

« on: April 09, 2022, 02:36:29 pm »

Batteries in both my Gem and Cosmo have failed and so has my search to replace them.

The final indignity was today--after finding one lone HK ebay seller vending the batteries, I bought two, then got a seller note saying the batteries had internal problems and asking me to cancel order. I don't quite understand the issue unless they simply didn't have them (I see that their listing is now gone).

Any other ideas for a seller? As they stand now, both phones are essentially useless.

Jake